“Looking for someone to show you some jewelry?”

“I—”

“Idaho’s nickname is the Gem State.” He moved to the opposite side of the display and opened it with a key.

“Really? I need to tell you—”

“This dark red stone is a star garnet.” He pulled out a pendant and held it under a light to show a six-rayed star. “Northern Idaho is the only place you can find it in the United States.” He touched the next piece. “This rare pink opal is also from Idaho, as well as this amethyst and topaz.”

“Interesting. But I want to—”

“Only a few gemstones aren’t found here. Diamonds, of course. Rubies. And emeralds.”

Emeralds. I broke out in a sweat and touched my ring finger. Great. Was jewelry joining darkness and guns as PTSD triggers?

Roy didn’t seem to notice. He placed a pair of rich, cornflower-blue faceted stone earrings on the counter. “And these beauties are Yogo sapphires from Montana.”

“And they have my name on them.” An immaculately dressed woman with a soft southern drawl appeared beside me. “Sorry, my dear, but I’ve no willpower when it comes to cut stones.”

She wasn’t kidding. She positively glittered, from her diamond studs to the rock on her finger. Quite the art class—Golden Girl Grace and Dee Dee Denim was joined by Madam Sparkles. With my lumpy rocks in my pockets, that would make me Dumpy Darby.

My moment to talk to Roy about the dead raccoon had passed. “The sapphires are all yours.”

“Done.” Roy beamed at Madam Sparkles as he slid the earrings across the counter to her.

I’d had a chance to see the price tag. The earrings cost more than my car. I wanted to mentally tut-tut her spending habits, but having just invested in an almost eight-hundred-dollar bag of dog food and two stray dogs, I was hardly a model of frugality.

Roy pulled out a small book and turned it so I could see. “This is from the International Gem Society and tells you about colored gemstones as well as their value. You’ll learn to appreciate the rare Yogo. You can borrow it. Now, over there”—he pointed with pride to a wall display behind me—“is my collection of raw minerals, and—”

“Breakfast is served.” Wyatt had entered. While I’d been in the gift shop, the lobby had filled with guests who were now filing into the dining area.

Roy grinned at me. “I do get carried away. Come, my dear, let me see you to your table.”

Taking the book, I followed everyone toward the dining room. On the way, I was finally able to tell Roy about the raccoon.

“Oh dear. I hope you didn’t touch it. Raccoons are notorious for carrying rabies.”

“No, I didn’t touch it, but you need to look at it. I’m wondering if the raccoon was, maybe, placed there.”